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Public university teachers and employees across the country continued their work abstention for the third consecutive day on Wednesday to press home their demand for reinstating previous pension facilities in place of the Universal Pension Scheme.
There was no academic activity, including classes and exams, in the universities. Classrooms and departmental offices of the universities were locked due to the movement.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association (FBUTA) said they are scheduled to meet with Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (Thursday) to discuss the teachers' ongoing programme.
Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Secretary General of the FBUTA, confirmed the information to the media.
"(Mr) Quader has initially scheduled the meeting for tomorrow (Thursday) morning. A team of 7-8 teachers will meet the Minister," Nizamul said on Wednesday.
Our DU Correspondent adds: Teachers of Dhaka University started a complete strike as part of the third day of agitation in the morning, followed by a sit-in program from 12 noon to 1 am.
At this time, Prof Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan said that Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader called them. "If the demand is accepted, we will withdraw the strike and return to classes. Otherwise, our movement will continue until demands are met."
JU Correspondent reports: Teachers at Jahangirnagar University have been continuing their all-out strike for the third day, demanding withdrawal of the 'Prottoy Scheme'. They also called for the inclusion of teachers in the 'Super Grade' and a separate pay scale for the university faculties.
On Wednesday, they boycotted all classes, exams, and academic activities, and held a sit-in protest in front of the Social Sciences faculty from 12 to 1 pm.
Under the moderation of Professor Shahed Rana, General Secretary of the JU Teachers' Association (JUTA), the teachers vowed to continue their strike.
Prof Rana stated that they will maintain their complete abstention from service until the discriminatory notification is withdrawn and their legitimate demands are met.
Prof Shamsul Alam of the Government and Politics Department stated, "We demand the resignation of the Finance Minister due to his remarks yesterday (Tuesday). His narration of the teachers' movement as irrational is unacceptable. University teachers have never engaged in unreasonable protests."
Prof Bashir Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, criticized the decision-making process, stating, "Bangabandhu granted us autonomy, freedom of research, and freedom of thought. How can such a decision be made without any discussion with us in a bureaucratic capacity?"
Terming the 'Prottoy Scheme' as a discriminatory JUTA President Prof Motaher Hossain urged the Prime Minister not to implement it. A nefarious circle aims to deprive teachers of their rights, he further said, requesting the PM not to insult teachers by perpetuating this scheme.